By: Brenna Finch
On Monday, May 26, 2025, I had a dream come true. My support worker and I took a trip to Vancouver to visit the legendary Warehouse Studios. Our journey began with the 351 Bridgeport bus, followed by the Canada Line SkyTrain to Waterfront. We grabbed coffee at Trees Coffee on Water Street before arriving at the Warehouse Studios.
The building is intentionally without a number on the front, to protect the privacy of the many famous artists who’ve recorded there—like Bryan Adams, Nickelback, Sum 41, and Bif Naked. Bryan Adams himself bought the building from the City of Vancouver.
We were warmly welcomed by a producer and administrator at the studio. Although the manager couldn’t meet us due to a recording session in Studio 3, we had a fantastic tour of Studios 1, 2, and 4. Studio 2 was the highlight—it’s the largest and houses Bryan Adams’ grand piano, which he bought with money his mother had saved for his university tuition.
In the console room, I saw all the professional recording equipment and even sat in the chair of legendary producer Bob Rock. My support worker was a bit lost with the technical talk, but I was in my element! I asked about the wires in Studio 4 and learned they were for the Neve console. On our way out, I spotted “Doris,” the cream-colored car from Bryan Adams’ “So Happy It Hurts” music video, covered for preservation.
Before leaving, I gave the staff a thank-you card I made myself. This visit was a dream I’ve had since I was a teen. Being there gave me a sense of belonging. I didn’t get to meet Bryan Adams or Bob Rock, but the experience was unforgettable. We ended the day with lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory and headed home, hearts full.
